March 24, 2014

A former Miss Sweden is trying to get the go-ahead to redecorate three areas of the building at 1500 Ocean Drive, otherwise known as The Michael Graves Building, and according to our sources, the renowned architect is livid. "He's very unhappy," says our source. "It is his signature building!"

Designed in 1993, the building is one of Graves' most famous. So much so that he has sent the building's residents a letter expressing his unhappiness. In it, he writes, "I’m not sure any of you know, but I have been in practice now for fifty years, and this is the first time something like what is happening at 1500 Ocean Drive has occurred in my professional life. . . . I am quite frankly, devastated by all of this, but don’t know what I can do."

That former beauty queen, Sofia Joelsson, is the owner of SoJo Design, a 13-year-old interior design business. We asked her to chime in on the situation, but so far she remains silent. As of a March 13 vote, at least 49 residents voted against Joelsson while around 48 voted for her plans.

According to a source at the building who asked to remain anonymous, "It's a case, in my opinion, of people with too much money and too little taste." Taste or no taste, it's also a tough sell for famous lawyer Alan Dershowitz, a resident at the building. "He is also against this redecoration travesty."

Rumor has it he even threatens to sue. Especially after a volatile meeting they had last week when Kevin A. Fox, the husband of board president Camille Polimeni, allegedly told Dershowitz to shut up.

Dershowitz's wife Carolynn Ann Cohen sent a letter to residents saying, "It is worth taking more time to do research on the impact of destroying something – the Michael Graves signature - that many of us think adds value to the building. Many of us believe that the SOJO design will make 1500 an unsuccessful imitation of what is already available in the area - apartment buildings with high ceilings and grand lobbies and a slicker, hotel style. Our building was not made for this aesthetic and imposing it will look like an unsuccessful hybrid that will not compete with these higher priced buildings. Wealthy people who want that aesthetic will chose the buildings intended for that look. We will be considered a second best imitation that people with less money can afford. It will not increase the value of our building, but lower it. We will have destroyed a classic Michael Graves building that makes us special. Instead, we will get an imitation of a current popular trend that may change again in five years. We will not be able to recover what we had."

In the meantime, here's the entire letter Graves wrote to the building's residents.

Sent electronically to the Residents of 1500 Ocean Drive

March 18, 2014

Dear Residents of 1500 Ocean Drive,

I’m not sure any of you know, but I have been in practice now for fifty years, and this is the first time something like what is happening at 1500 Ocean Drive has occurred in my professional life. So, I’m new to all this and for that I am sorry. I should tell you all that there is a different way architects approach problems like this than decorators and designers do. Architects have a full knowledge about what things cost and the rules that govern certain changes. For instance, the new covering that is proposed (if I am reading the SOJO drawings right) for the pool area is raised up from the present grade and therefore is not ADA compliant (ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act), in other words, this change is not lawful. I looked at the proposed changes to the floor plan of the lobby and I don’t know whether you are all aware, but it is massive. While I was a resident at 1500 Ocean Drive, nobody ever told me that they were dissatisfied with the way the lobby functioned, let alone its appearance. Therefore, I simply don’t understand why those changes were made. It appears that there is an epoxy coating proposed for the floor finish in the porte-cochère, this too raises the height to a point where it will not be ADA compliant. These were always our stumbling blocks in former conversations regarding the material in the porte-cochère. The designers have made an addition of natural stone to one side of the porte-cochère with a large logo on its face. This is the only place that stone would be used in the building and therefore strikes me as an anomaly and not in character with the rest of the building. I feel the same way about the tiles that are used on the island in the porte-cochère, the only adjective that comes to mind for these changes is “glitzy”. There are natural stones used as new flooring in the island – which will be very unwelcoming in regards to certain shoe types. With regard to the lobby, do you all realize that upon entering the axis leads you directly to the assistant manager’s office, which has a glass façade? It seemed to me the original location for the reception area, where the assistant manager now is, is much preferred.

There was a mention of a $50,000 fee in a letter to me, I don’t know where this number came from as I gave my services pro bono. My services had to do with the ocean room, the recovering of the furniture and drawings for the elevator cabs. I am quite frankly, devastated by all of this, but don’t know what I can do. It’s so strange to me to have gone through the reupholstering of the furniture throughout the public spaces and the installation of the gaming tables in the ocean room, for somebody to come along and say, “Let’s do it again”. I am sure you are aware of the enormous cost to each of you. I suspect, if a contractor gave you a preliminary bid, it would exceed the number you are now using. Even the current number to me, would kill the deal for what you are getting. Would it be more reasonable for you to take smaller steps in all of this and perhaps, do the porte-cochère first and see how that turns out, instead of the complete upheaval that would be caused by the changes to the lobby, etc. as currently proposed. I would propose also that you make a distinction between material upgrades such as the resurfacing of the porte-cochere and what has been called “freshening”. Freshening, I suspect is a euphemism for redesign. That has nothing to do with material changes, but individual esthetics.

This is hard for me to say, but I noticed that the bottled water that’s given out to residents has on its logo, “The Michael Graves Building”, I was quite surprised to see that , but I’m sorry to say that it will no longer be true if the proposed changes are implemented. There are elements of design throughout the proposal where I simply don’t understand the rationale. For instance, there are two round columns in the lobby with a Venetian plaster finish I have always thought were quite beautiful, but the new scheme makes the round columns square. For what reason would a designer do that? It is simply somebody’s taste, and perhaps changes for changes sake to build up the cost.

I have a fantasy that if you go ahead with all that is proposed, that in the next ten or twenty years the next well-meaning board will come along and put Humpty Dumpty back together again. If I were still a tenant I would insist on bringing the contractor into the mix at this point to get a preliminary bid on the designs that have been proposed, as I think you will all be quite surprised, and I would hate for you all to get this bill after the renovation and have no idea what you are getting into now. I would give this to more than one contractor as I don’t think it should be anybody that is proposed by SOJO, there is too much conflict of interest possible for that to take place. The contractor should be made to bid on what would be ADA compliant, rather than just putting a surface on top of what’s there already with a step.

Finally, I read in one of your letters that SOJO was in contact with me relative to what they were doing. I should tell you that nobody from that firm ever talked to me. I stand ready to help in any way I can and if there are any further questions you need answered, don’t hesitate to call me.

All my best,

Michael Graves

Update: Residents on the other side of the battle--those who wish to see the interior design spruced up--have chimed in loudly, explaining that "There are a multitude of buildings in Miami Beach, NY and other parts of the world whose structures are designed by first class world renowned architects, some even greater than Mr. Graves, and its common areas are designed by qualified INTERIOR DESIGNERS. They seem to know the difference between the two disciplines." The battle, it seems, is over interior aesthetics. Graves, whose chairs adorn a lobby that some say is reminiscent of "an old age home," stands firm on his original decor. What follows is the first letter he sent to residents in which he expresses his ire at any interior tweaking:

February 6, 2014Residents of 1500 Ocean Drive1500 Ocean DriveMiami Beach, Florida 33139Dear Residents of 1500 Ocean Drive,I have been sent copies of the proposed changes and I can’t imagine a worse fate for the building. I would have to characterize them (one in particular) as somewhere between a brothel and Las Vegas. I had always assumed from talking to Ines that the prices were elevated in the building because of my involvement; however the new board seems to think the opposite. From what I can tell the proposals have been made by decorators, not architects and designers like these have no clue as to the concept of domesticity. I am quite frankly devastated by all of this, but don’t know what I can do. It’s so strange to me to have gone through the reupholstering of the furniture and the installation of the gaming tables in the ocean room, for somebody to come along and say, “Let’s do it again”. Are the residents aware of the enormous cost to each of them, which would be the result of any of these schemes? The old board that I worked with was quite frugal, as they didn’t do anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary for fear of the costs.It really comes down to a question of taste; the glitz that they might have seen in a hotel versus the domestic character that we aimed for. If they are successful in making these renovations, I am afraid not only will the character of the spaces change so dramatically, but I think the character of the inhabitants will over time reflect the glitziness of the renovation.If there is anything that you can think of that I can do to help the situation, please let me know.All my best,Michael Graves

And lastly, as we leave the battle to the building, the renovation proposal from the aforementioned SoJo:

March 06, 2014

Oprah Winfrey's former 6,170 square foot Fisher Island penthouse was sold once again, this time for $13.5 cash to billionaire LawrenceStroll, best known for taking the Michael Kors brand public three years ago. Winfrey, originally represented by hot shot Fisher Island broker Mary Ann Portell, negotiated the deal to then Chairman of the Board of Campbell's Soup, George Sherman, who bought it for $6.5 million in 2001. "That was unheard of at the time," says Portell. Sherman, who has built a mansion on La Gorce Island, still maintains a pied a terre on Gilligan', er Fisher Island.

October 23, 2013

Despite the fact that Miami has proven to be reality ratings poison (if you thought The Real Housewives of Miami was bad, Big Ang's Miami Monkey was an even bigger, er, bust), Bravo has just announced Million Dollar Listing Miami, which will, says the network, "showcase the sexy city where top luxury agents battle it out in the world of high-end real estate. With a surging market in South Florida, properties are selling for record rates and agents are cashing in on massive commissions like never before." Sound familiar? Like, perhaps the show-without-a-home Hot Listings Miami, featuring realtors Katrina Campins and Patricia Delinois? Not the same show. In fact, Campins is definitely not involved, confirmed her publicist Daphne Ortiz. In the meantime, a hot shot Miami realtor who was involved in an alleged casting for Million Dollar Listing Miami tells us the cast is made up of "unknowns." The network is keeping us in a holding pattern, but let's hope the boom isn't another bust for Bravo.

UPDATED: Cast members are: Chad Carroll and Chris Leavitt of Douglas Elliman South Florida and Samantha DeBianchi of her own eponymous, Fort Lauderdale-based real estate company. The three are pictured below and the show premieres in June.

September 09, 2013

While rumors abound via celebrity real estate blog Real Estalker that One Direction's 19-year-old Harry Styles is eyeing a massive Key Biscayne crib that would set him back at least a million bucks for every year of his 19-years on earth at a whopping listing price of $19.5 million, our real estate intelligence says no way. "His net worth is only $10 million at this point," says our spy, who also added that "Key Biscayne is too old, too foreign, and too stuffy for a British teenager." Well alrightey then, though we'd think most of America is too "foreign" for a Brit and much of Miami often too alien even for its own denizens. Styles is no ordinary teenager, of course, but for shame. He's only worth $10 million, which is still enough to buy a pricey house from high end Miami realtors The Jills. Incidentally, a rep for The Jills is on mute as usual, not yet returning our request for comment, but to borrow a quote from Jill Eber from our last real estate rumor about The Beckhams buying the Versace manse, "My comment would be we
can't comment. Any buyer we work with is confidential.” In the meantime, click here for the listing at 755 S. Mashta Drive.

August 07, 2013

A British magazine reports that Victoria and David Beckham have their eye on the Versace Mansion should Becks be bending towards bringing his MLS team down to Miami. Speculation has been that he is seriously considering it, but would the couple seriously consider living on one of Miami's most trafficked, touristy thoroughfares? Gianni Versace did it back in the day, but that was way before the TGI Friday's and Fat Tuesday's moved in. We asked someone close to the Beckhams and were told, "That house is way too tacky for Victoria. She may be a fashion icon, but I can't see her living in that ostentatious house on that dreadful street." Said Jill Eber of The Jills, the real estate team co-marketing the manse, which is set to be auctioned off in bankruptcy proceedings (min. bid $25 mil) September 17, "My comment would be we can't comment. Any buyer we work with is confidential." But according to Kevin Tomlinson, Vice President of ONE Sotheby's International, who has nothing to do with the property, "I've heard nothing. The Jordache family---Nakash--owns the lien so they're first up to get it." Or the first to sell it to the Beckhams. Stay tuned.

July 31, 2013

Say adios to The Voice judge Shakira, who just listed her North Bay Road home for $14.95 million, according to real estate blog Redfin. The home, located up the block from Matt Damon's home (listed at $20 mil) has, among other things, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a pool with a hardwood deck, a master bedroom with a nursery, guest quarters, and a gym. The listing is by Ben Moss, ex-husband of soon to be Style Channel reality star and real estate pro, Katrina Campins. Shakira joins an A-list of celebs including the aforementioned Damon, Billy Joel, Rosie O'Donnell, and Jennifer Lopez who have either sold or are selling their Miami cribs. To see Shakira's listing, click here.

July 24, 2012

There are no real estate woes for the 1 percent. According to Kevin Tomlinson'sSouth Beach Condos Blog, three North Bay Road homes were sold for $19.6 million to 37-year-old Ohio coal mining heir Wayne Boich, Jr., who plans to knock down all three homes and build one big billionaire bachelor pad. Boich's ICON South Beach penthouse is currently under contract for somewhere in the market of $21 million, closing allegedly on September 1. Boich is CEO of the eponymous Columbus-based Boich Group of Companies, which in 2008 teamed up with Ohio utility company FirstEnergy to buy the Signal Peak Coal Mine near Billings, Montana to create Signal Peak Energy. The company is also a big donor in political circles, too, especially to Speaker of the House John Boehner, a big supporter of clean coal efforts.

From clean coal to down and dirty partying, Boich, a LIV-fixture, is best known locally for dating Tara Reid many moons ago, and for his big, star studded birthday bashes, his latest featuringDJ Avicii spinning at his penthouse. His website describes him as "a man with vision, who has a deep concern for the community, society and the environment. These combined factors make him a powerful and articulate business man."

Incidentally, one of the homes he bought used to belong to former singer, beauty queen, Florida citrus spokesperson and anti-gay advocate Anita Bryantand then husband, late Miami DJ Bob Green back in 1982.

Update: So much for the billionaire bachelor pad. Congrats go out to Boich, who, last week announced his engagement to 29-year-old Cynthia Marin. The couple, who met in Spain over two years ago, will marry next year and move into that big ol' house they're building together. Mazel tov and move on, golddiggers.

June 04, 2012

Miami Heat player Mike Miller has put his Hillsboro Shores (Broward County) estate on the auction block for the second time. If Miller has his way, the place will be sold on June 30 to the highest bidder via Platinum Luxury Auctions, LLC, an auction house specializing in multi-million-dollar real estate and asset sales. The three level oceanfront estate has 6 bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms, an elevator, 2 kitchens, cigar and wine room, swim up pool bar and more. Before he decided to put it up for auction, Miller listed the home for $9 million. The home was originally scheduled to for auction in February, and while interest was allegedly generated, Miller decided to "re-offer" it now. In other words, he wants to get rid of it asap, so there's neither a minimum bid nor a reserve meaning it just goes to the highest bidder. To live like a baller, click here.

We sent the entire memo to our legal eagle, who, in layman's terms told us, "Sounds like he is going to have to file for bankruptcy. It also sounds like he is not going to be able to obtain title insurance for any of his properties that he either has or is planning to purchase in the future."

This, despite the fact that on April 3, the Herald's Doug Hanks wrote, "The 1,500-room resort that once publicly discussed bankruptcy proceedings now is impressing analysts with rapid profit growth and one of the most lucrative nightclubs in the country."

The Fontainebleau's Director of Public Relations Mabel De Beunza was unavailable for comment.

So were we just bam-bleau-zled (sorry) or is this not that shocking and no big deal? We'll leave that to the business experts like Hanks, who says "I would be cautious in assuming this will impact the Fontainebleau." We won't cry for them, but on second thought, for $9 a second we'll cry them a river.

The Miami Herald has received a letter from Fidelty National Title Group that takes issue with this posting, stating it "mischaracterized both the Alert's purpose and its contents. ... Fidelity's Alert did not make the assertions suggested in your Article...in fact, we have updated the contents of the Alert to delete both Bruce Weiner and Ray Perello from the list of individuals as to whom underwriting positions must be formulated.''

After reviewing the situation, Miami Herald editors agree that the memorandum attached to the above posting does not present information that would support any conclusions regarding the Fontainebleau's risk of bankruptcy . The lawyer quoted in the post gave a general opinion as to the legal language in the memo and had not followed or studied cases involving the Fontainebleau and its financial standing prior to giving us his quote.